Variability in the Selection Patterns of Pronghorn: Are they Really Native Prairie Obligates?

In Canada, pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) are primarily considered a native prairie obligate because of their reliance on open grassland vegetation communities, although an assessment of local ecological knowledge suggests that pronghorn in Alberta select a variety of habitat from native prairie to cultivated lands. The primary objective of our study was to assess whether pronghorn in Alberta and Saskatchewan are native prairie obligates. Specifically, we addressed the following questions: 1) do individual pronghorn show similar selection patterns for native prairie and, therefore, support the notion that they are prairie obligates; 2) do pronghorn show consistent resource selection patterns at multiple scales (landscape and within-seasonal range); and 3) to what extent are selection patterns of pronghorn influenced by highways and roads. Within Alberta, we captured, collared, and monitored for one year individual female pronghorn in December 2003 (n = 24), March 2005 (n = 25), and March 2006 (n = 25). A detrended correspondence analysis of patterns of habitat selection revealed three distinct groups of pronghorn (r2 = 0.96, n = 55) that we labeled native, cultivated, and mixed, referring to the dominant land cover in their parturition ranges. We used logistic regression to model resource selection patterns of the three groups of pronghorn during the parturition and winter periods at the landscape and within-seasonal range scales. At the landscape scale, each group of pronghorn had top models consisting of the variables land cover, landform, distance to express highways, distance to arterial roads, and distance to collector roads for both periods. The native and mixed groups were less likely to use annual and perennial cropland than native prairie habitats, whereas the cultivated group was more likely to use annual and perennial cropland. At the within-seasonal range scale, the top models for each group in both seasons consisted of one or more road variables, but the top models exhibited poor model fit. Our results do not show a clear association for native prairie, which we would have expected if pronghorn were native prairie obligates, suggestive of plasticity in behavior. We acknowledge that patterns of habitat selection do not indicate habitat quality or fitness; therefore, to understand the individual- and population-level consequences of selecting sub-optimal habitats, such as agricultural landscapes, further research is needed

An fMRI investigation of the relationship between future imagination and cognitive flexibility

While future imagination is largely considered to be a cognitive process grounded in default mode network activity, studies have shown that future imagination recruits regions in both default mode and frontoparietal control networks. In addition, it has recently been shown that the ability to imagine the future is associated with cognitive flexibility, and that tasks requiring cognitive flexibility result in increased coupling of the default mode network with frontoparietal control and salience networks. In the current study, we investigated the neural correlates underlying the association between cognitive flexibility and future imagination in two ways. First, we experimentally varied the degree of cognitive flexibility required during future imagination by manipulating the disparateness of episodic details contributing to imagined events. To this end, participants generated episodic details (persons, locations, objects) within three social spheres; during fMRI scanning they were presented with sets of three episodic details all taken from the same social sphere (Congruent condition) or different social spheres (Incongruent condition) and required to imagine a future event involving the three details. We predicted that, relative to the Congruent condition, future simulation in the Incongruent condition would be associated with increased activity in regions of the default mode, frontoparietal and salience networks. Second, we hypothesized that individual differences in cognitive flexibility, as measured by performance on the Alternate Uses Task, would correspond to individual differences in the brain regions recruited during future imagination. A task partial least squares (PLS) analysis showed that the Incongruent condition resulted in an increase in activity in regions in salience networks (e.g. the insula) but, contrary to our prediction, reduced activity in many regions of the default mode network (including the hippocampus). A subsequent functional connectivity (within-subject seed PLS) analysis showed that the insula exhibited increased coupling with default mode regions during the Incongruent condition. Finally, a behavioral PLS analysis showed that individual differences in cognitive flexibility were associated with differences in activity in a number of regions from frontoparietal, salience and default-mode networks during both future imagination conditions, further highlighting that the cognitive flexibility underlying future imagination is grounded in the complex interaction of regions in these networks

Form, function and biological role in the locomotory apparatus of the genus Odocoileus in Alberta (Mammalia: Artiodactyla)

Bibliography: p. 162-165

Educational freedom of choice : origins of vocational selection among community college students

Purpose of the Study. This study was, in part, a search for those "trigger mechanisms" which caused or motivated students who are enrolled at the Houston Community College System in vocational/technical courses to make such a choice in the first place. Students enroll in vocational/technical courses for particular and personal reasons. This study sought to identify determing factors which influenced students in following a vocational/technical path, considering that they emerged from a public school system, kindergarten through grade 12, which is often designed for college bound youth. One of the aims of this study was to learn what perceptions community college students had of their own freedom to select curriculum in a secondary school environment, and of the availability of vocational/technical training in high school. Procedures. Two thousand students enrolled in vocational/technical courses at the Houston Community College were chosen randomly from particular vocational areas. The areas selected correspond to similar vocational course offerings in public high schools. Data was collected and summarized by frequencies of responses. Data was further summarized by a crosstabulation of responses. Data was tabulated and reported in frequency tables according to number and percentages. Major Findings. Major findings of this study are based on an 86.5 percent return of questionnaires numbering 1,731 students surveyed at Houston Community College System in April, 1982. 1. Students enrolled in vocational/technical courses mostly to develop a new career or for career promotion. 2. Most students enrolled in high school vocational courses to either "plan a career" or to "learn a skill for its own sake." 3. When in high school, students did not enroll in vocational/technical courses either because they were required to take academic courses, or to a lesser degree, they had not developed an occupational interest. 4. Most students would welcome an opportunity to take a vocational aptitude test if the opportunity were offered. 5. Most American born students did not approve of state authorities being empowered to make assignments of schools to students; however most of those born out of America approved of authorities being empowered to make school assignments. 6. Students reported that they would have welcomed an opportunity to enroll in a "magnet vocational high school," had it been available. 7. Most students had no previous knowledge of educational vouchers, but, given an opportunity, they would have liked to have been able "to bid" on a high school of their choice. Recommendations for Further Study. 1. Are future consumers of education likely to remain passive regarding delivery of education from a compulsory state run system? 2. Can the private sector deliver vocational/technical education as well as or better than public educational delivery system? 3. Can vocational/technical education be made more cost effective and motivating with competition from private skill centers? 4. Will taxpayers continue to support their public school system via ad valorem taxation and general support? 5. Can an unrestricted system of educational vouchers provide a path to a more effective alternative vocational/ technical education delivery system? 6. This study will provide data for community college planning and articulation projects with independent school districts. It is intended to assist in curriculum planning and future forecasting of enrollment in vocational areas in community colleges whose main thrust is vocational rather than academic.Education, College o

An Interview with Dr. Richard Eslinger

Dr. Meyer interviews Dr. Eslinger about how things have changed over the years

Variability in the Selection Patterns of Pronghorn: Are they Really Native Prairie Obligates?

In Canada, pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) are primarily considered a native prairie obligate because of their reliance on open grassland vegetation communities, although an assessment of local ecological knowledge suggests that pronghorn in Alberta select a variety of habitat from native prairie to cultivated lands. The primary objective of our study was to assess whether pronghorn in Alberta and Saskatchewan are native prairie obligates. Specifically, we addressed the following questions: 1) do individual pronghorn show similar selection patterns for native prairie and, therefore, support the notion that they are prairie obligates; 2) do pronghorn show consistent resource selection patterns at multiple scales (landscape and within-seasonal range); and 3) to what extent are selection patterns of pronghorn influenced by highways and roads. Within Alberta, we captured, collared, and monitored for one year individual female pronghorn in December 2003 (n = 24), March 2005 (n = 25), and March 2006 (n = 25). A detrended correspondence analysis of patterns of habitat selection revealed three distinct groups of pronghorn (r2 = 0.96, n = 55) that we labeled native, cultivated, and mixed, referring to the dominant land cover in their parturition ranges. We used logistic regression to model resource selection patterns of the three groups of pronghorn during the parturition and winter periods at the landscape and within-seasonal range scales. At the landscape scale, each group of pronghorn had top models consisting of the variables land cover, landform, distance to express highways, distance to arterial roads, and distance to collector roads for both periods. The native and mixed groups were less likely to use annual and perennial cropland than native prairie habitats, whereas the cultivated group was more likely to use annual and perennial cropland. At the within-seasonal range scale, the top models for each group in both seasons consisted of one or more road variables, but the top models exhibited poor model fit. Our results do not show a clear association for native prairie, which we would have expected if pronghorn were native prairie obligates, suggestive of plasticity in behavior. We acknowledge that patterns of habitat selection do not indicate habitat quality or fitness; therefore, to understand the individual- and population-level consequences of selecting sub-optimal habitats, such as agricultural landscapes, further research is needed